Iconic high country tracks MEDIUM

Dargo or Licola, VIC

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Hi all planning a trip over Australia day w/e doing some iconic tracks of the high country. starting point will depend on where the majority of people are coming from. If majority are from South eastern side of the city will head from dargo up dargo high plains rd to blue rag track otherwise will enter via harrietvile side. Plan on having early lunch/brunch at the bottom of blue rag then make our way back out (bring your camera if your into photography as the views are amazing and will have plenty of opportunities to stop for photos). From there if all goes well with time will head down basalt knob track and spend the night in talbotvile. Leaving early Sunday will do a loop around crooked river track/ bull town and Collingwood spur track and head up billy goat bluff track to the pinnacles where we will stop to have a look. Depending on time and what everyone wants to do can camp at horse yard flat or push on to camp at chromite mine. Monday will take Burgoyne track out to licola road and depends on time and if we could be bothered follow it across licola rd to Cheyennes bridge. This is a rough plan but things rarely go to plan so will see how it pans out. I will be camping Friday night but destination will depend on point of entry. Bush camping the whole time so will have to be self sufficient (food/water) and seing as it will be middle of summer do not rely on cooking on a fire. No camper trailers or pets

Requirement

  • Recovery Gear
  • Antony (Peloza79) Trip Leader - Level 5 (Completed over 43 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Myself only
    Vdj79 landcruiser (2013 Landcruiser)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Josh (FlexyXJ) I am first-aid qualified I have mechanic skills

    GOING
    Driver + 1 Adult
    4.0 Petrol Jeep XJ (1998 XJ)
    • 33" Tyres, 4" Lifted
    • Front Diff Lock
    • Winch

  • Jason (FauxBogan) I am first-aid qualified I had chainsaw training Completed Intermediate training Trip Leader - Level 4 (Completed over 36 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (22-Jan-2015 20:38)
    Shadow (2020 Power Wagon 75th Anniversary)
    • 35" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Christo (Lotriet) I am first-aid qualified I have mechanic skills I had chainsaw training I had winch training

    GOING
    Driver + 1 AdultChecked-In (23-Jan-2015 12:32)
    4l v6 petrol (2013 Fj cruiser)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Rear Diff Lock
    • Winch


  • Dave (Calderd)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    V8 76series cruiser (2009 Landcruiser)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Paul (furkew)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    JK Wrangler (2010 JK Sport)
    • 37" Tyres, 4" Lifted
    • Front Diff Lock
    • Winch

  • Brian (Hitman)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Landcruiser 200 V8 (2009 200 Series)
    • 33" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Terry De Vries (mrmods)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    105 series 4.2 1HD-T (1998 landcruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Zak (Uzooz) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 4 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Dakuwqa (2020 Gladiator)
    • 35" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Hey all looks like we are coming from everywhere for the trip. Are we happy to meet in dargo or harrietvile? Majority rules so everyone give there preference.
15 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
Ah man, whats the go trip posted last night and full within 2 hours GRRRR
can we possibly split into 2 groups and do some different tracks or have a half hour gap between...
16 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
Was just having another look at the plans for this trip and think that it should definitely classed as a hard to extreme (in sections) trip. Billy goats is very chopped up at the moment with big ledges and lots of very loose and steep sections that only cars with lockers and or experienced drivers will get up. With some rock ledges about 1 meter high that need to be climbed so good clearance is vital. Also sth. bassolt section near tallbotville would be classed as very hard, last time I did it I stuggled in 1 section with a front wheel 2 foot off the ground and only 1 foot away from falling off the side of the track., another car with us had a simular moment and we had a very nerve racking recovery with his doughter stuck in the car because the seat belt would not release, his RH back wheel was only 6 inchs from falling off the track down a 100 foot drop and a front wheel about 3 foot skyward. Not for the faint hearted or inexperianced
16 Dec 2014
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Sorry the trip filled so quickly matt but that was out of my control, as for doing two groups unfortunately with a trip this size (there's a bit of distance that needs to be covered) I am not comfortable doing in two groups or having more cars. But in saying that if you know the area and are comfortable your more than welcome to post the same trip and take another group. In reading what you were saying about track conditions all vehicles look capable and I put down for experienced drivers. But I think the best thing would be to do a rece run the week befor (up dargo high plains rd to bassolt, down to tablevilee, crooked river then up billie goats and home). If you like I'm more than happy for you to come along for this. Let me know as I might post it on the site but will be only 3 cars.
Cheers Antony
16 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
I fully understand why the car limit, nothing worse than a trip with to many cars, I did notice that you said experienced drivers but as a winch was not a requirement and your comment about not being a winch challenge but a touring / sight seeing weekend I just wanted to let people know that there will most certainly be some very hard sections, although most of it will be relatively easy, blue rag is like a highway at the moment.
I would be interested in tagging along for a recy run if you do 1 let me know.
16 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
Just got onto the trip when Robbo pulled out, all about good timing, I will leave the spot open for someone else to join a reccy run if it happens. Depending on work I might be up that way about 10th jan . If so I will report back on track conditions
16 Dec 2014
Allan (allanmac) Premium Member
Anthony, am sure you have already taken this into consideration, but Aust Day weekend will be busy & expect many vehicles on the tracks, especially going to Blue Rag & Billy Goats. No doubt you have factored in the 'progress can be very slow' on the 2 tracks I mentioned when there are alot of vehicles around.

I am heading up to Talbotville for 5 days from Jan 5th, so will report back on track conditions etc if you like.

Cheers
16 Dec 2014
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
That is the reason why I said things might not go to plan, wether it would be traffic, track blockage, weather etc. this is a rough itinerary of what I would like to do but the group is only as fast as the slowest member and only as capable as the least capable member and because of this we may not be able to go on all the tracks mentioned. yes there will be challenging parts of the trip but nothing that as a group we couldn't handle. I appreciate everyone's concern and if you feal that this trip will be to challenging or to slow going or if you are expecting to follow my itenary to the millimetre than please withdraw as this might not be the trip for you. For everyone else coming I can't wait to meet you all and seeing as I havnt heard anything about the meeting point I will make it dargo. Also please remember that if you don't have long range tanks to carry some spare fuel and all vehicles must have front and rear recovery points.
16 Dec 2014
Josh (FlexyXJ)
Looking forward to it mate. Yep Dargo sounds good.
16 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
meeting in Dargo suits me, maybe meet up along the way and travel in convoy for anyone coming from the eastern burbs
16 Dec 2014
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Hey guys I will see how the rece goes but I feal being an iconic track trip we have to do billie goats. In saying this might do the trip backwards by starting in licola and working our way to harrietvile as from memory billie goats is a lot easier working our way towards the helipad. This is just a thought for now and will let everyone know if things change. Just thought I would give a heads up. Cheers Antony
17 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
personally I would much rather drive up than down, only because it is more of a challenge and IMO safer, easy to stop going up if it goes a bit wrong, going down not so easy to stop...
17 Dec 2014
Mien and Jack (DutchDuo)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Grr...didn't check our diary before joining....other plans already made...sorry. Have fun everyone!
17 Dec 2014
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Well il do the rece and see. Though I do like a good challenge I have to think about the rest of the group and after all the feedback I've heard about how bad the track condition is it might be the safer and less damaging option going down. As long as all the cars have low range and it is dry downhill will be a lot better, you will have more control of the vehicle as you don't have to bounce full noise up the hill and it would be very difficult to get stuck as gravity comes into effect, but as I said I will figure out a final route after the rece
17 Dec 2014
Matthew (discomatt)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: A job has come up that I need to do over a long weekend, all good though I have joined the reccy run and freed up a spot for someone else to join this trip
20 Dec 2014
Jenkin (Boots Ranger.)
I did Billy Goats a month or so back and yes it is pretty rutted and washed out in places. But I did it in a Ranger with no lift kit, so if you pick your lines and take your time it is do-able in most Veh. Just needs a bit of time and care. After a fail on one section early on, second attempt I engaged the locker and crawled up the rest after that without too much wheel spin. I actually touched more coming back down, as the suspension was compressed.
21 Dec 2014
David (Golddigger)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Daughter is moving same W/E. So I have decided to go 2 weeks earlier directly after Haunted stream Trip.
22 Dec 2014
Steven (PKKitchens)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Trucks not going to be going.
06 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
Hi Antony,
I'm coming up Friday night with a mate. Where are we gonna camp? No fires are allowed out the back of the pub, so maybe just up the road somewhere?
18 Jan 2015
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
hey guys meeting place for the trip will be harrietville @ 10am, I know I said dargo but taking off from here will give us more time on the tracks. Will just meet up on the main st somewhere, I'm in a silver landcruiser ute and will be there early so just keep an eye out. It's a bit of distance to cover so will need full tanks from harrietvile. If anyone doesn't have long range tanks might be a good idea to bring a jerry As well, will have room on my ute if needed. I will be camping Friday night just out of bright, the campsite is called wandiligong and its off coronation ave. I will be leaving around 4pm Friday (I'm @ Waverley park) if anyone's keen to head up then or we can meet up on the way somewhere, just let me know and we can sort something out. Any problems my number is 0403 667 835
18 Jan 2015
David (Paul Patrol)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Unfortunately the kids don't want a full weekend of wheeling so I must pull out from this trip....spew'n as I was looking forward to it. Will just camp somewhere by the river instead.
20 Jan 2015
Gary (poppyg)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: injured right knee.
21 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
Oh Boo freakin hoo Gary! Harden up man. I was looking forward to hangin out again.
21 Jan 2015
Christo (Lotriet)
Gary ,Jason is right ...man-up ....I have a
bloody good kneegaurd for you ....come
along mate
21 Jan 2015
Josh (FlexyXJ)
Ill be meeting up with you Sat morning. Antony, I might take you up on your offer and chuck a jerry in ur tray just in case.. the Jeep can be a little thirsty. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
22 Jan 2015
Warren (campin40)
G'day. I haven't met any of you before but lookin forward to it. Hope you all don't mind me tagging along.
Regards
Waz.
22 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
It's gonna be awesome Waz! A spectacular part of the world.
22 Jan 2015
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
If I could just have a heads up on who's coming when?
22 Jan 2015
Warren (campin40)
Ok. So the meeting place is harrietvile at 10am yes? If so I will meet there at 10am.
22 Jan 2015
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Just checking who's going up Friday night
22 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
A mate and I are leaving town at two on Friday. We'll drive up to bright, grab a meal and a beer then set up camp quickly. Drop me a line if you see the lux in bright and we can grab a beer.
22 Jan 2015
Trip Leader Antony (Peloza79) Premium Member
Yer sweet well I probably won't be there untill 9 tomorow night, anyhow il see you all up there
22 Jan 2015
Christo (Lotriet)
I plan to be at camp site about 4pm with my
son & his mate .....can we have open fires ?
Cheers ...see you there !
22 Jan 2015
Christo (Lotriet)
Aprox 5 kilometres down coronation ave then left on Williams road
500m up ....on right my white fj cruiser you will see from road ...call
0428128143
23 Jan 2015
Matthew (discomatt)
did you guys end up doing Billy goats? Have just heard that its been graded and all the steps jack hammered out, what a bummer if that is the case
27 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
It was indeed graded. There were stone chips everywhere. It would have been a nightmare with all the traffic. I'd love to have done it on a quiet day when it was still gnarly. It'll take a long time to be rough again.
27 Jan 2015
Matthew (discomatt)
mmm that sux to many great tracks are now just a easy drive that you hardly even need a decent 4by to do and the hard ones that they can't fix just get closed, I understand why they grade them, safety, fire access bla bla bla but it still sux, glad I got to do it a while back when it was a bit tricky now it will be a least a couple of years before its a challenge again
28 Jan 2015
Jason (FauxBogan) Premium Member
They're good pics. Thanks Skottie.
02 Feb 2015
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TRIP COMPLETED

5 GOING, 5 Interested
7 adults
Trip Date
24-Jan-2015 (Sat) to 26-Jan-2015 (Mon)

Meeting Point
Rather dargo or harrietvile, depends on where the majority of people people are coming from
8:30 AM (Sat, 24-Jan-2015)